Wire-fence fastener



J. F. INMAN.

WIRE FENCE FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. nan.

l ,3 1 4:, 808 Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

INVENTOR BY W ATTORNEY JOHN F. INMAN, 0F COLOFLATS, COLORADO.

WIRE-FENCE FASTENER.

Specification of Letters latent. Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

Application filed April 19, 1917. Serial No. 163,249.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Jens F. INMAN, a citizenof the United States, residing at Coloflats, in the county of Las Animasand State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin lVire-Fence Fasteners, of which the following is a spool-- fication.

This invention relates to a wire fence fastener, and the principalobject of the invention is to provide a device of this character whichwill hold the fence wire to the post so the same can be easily andquickly removed from the post, thereby allowing access to the fenced-inarea.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the wire isprevented from being released from the fastener by the stock pushingagainst the same.

Another object of the invention is to make the device of but two parts,a main part and a movable part and to make said movable part of heavymaterial so it will remain closed by its weight, thereby renderingunnecessary the use of springs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterwhich is simple and durable in construction, reliable and efficient inoperation and one which can be manufactured and placed upon the marketat a minimum cost.

The invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described and specifically pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 shows the invention applied to a post.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a post supplied with the fasteners.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the fastener alone.

In these drawings, 1 represents a fence post and 2 the wires of thefence. 3 represents the fastener for securing the wires to the post.This fastener is made of one piece of material provided with a flat part4 having holes 5 therein to receive the screws or nails for'securing thefastener to the post.

At the bottom this piece is bent at right angles, as at 6, and a pair ofears 7 is cut therefrom and bent downwardly, as shown. The material isthen reduced in width and is curved downwardly in the form of a loop, asat S, to form a support for the wire. The extreme end of this loopportion is enlarged and be'ntupwardly to form ears 9 to receive the freeend of the tongue 10 which has journals 11 thereon engaging holes in theears 7. As will be seen, the ears 9 also form a recess 12 betweenthemselves and the downwardly extending part of the loop 8 and thisrecess receives the fence wire so as to hold the same therein againstmovement. If, however, the stock should rub against the wire so as toforce the same out of the recess, said ears 9 would direct said wireover the tongue 10, thus preventing said tongue from being raised by thewire. As soon as the weight of the stock is removed from the wire, thesame will pass back into the recess, owing to the inclined arrangementof the tongue 10.

WVhen access is to be had to the fencedin area, the wires can be quicklyremoved from the post by simply lifting up the tongue 10 with one handand drawing the fence wire over the ears 9 and below the tongue out ofthe loop. The wires are then laid on the ground and after the vehiclepasses said wires can be quickly and easily replaced on the post bysimply placing the same against the tongues 10 and lifting upwardly,thus raising the tongues and allowing the wires to pass into therecesses '12.

I prefer to make the tongue 10 of heavy material so that the same willremain closed by its weight, thus rendering unnecessary the use ofsprings.

I It is thought from the foregoing that the advantages and novelfeatures of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make slight changes in theconstruction and in the combination and arrangement of the severalparts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fence post, a wire fence fastener comprising a plate adapted tobe secured to said post, said plate having its lower end extendedoutwardly thereof at an angle thereto, said extended end of the platebeingextended and curved to form a hook part whereby the same will bespaced from said .post, and a tongue pivoted, to said plate forengagement with the free end of said book.

2. In a fence post, a wire fence fastener comprising a plate adapted tobe secured to said post, said plate having its lower end extended atright angles to said plate then extended to form a hook part whereby thefree end of the hook will be spaced from said post, a pair of carsformed upon the longitudinal marginal edges of said hook adjacent thefree end thereof and extended toward said plate, and atongue pivoted to,

said plate for engaging the free "end of the hook between said ears. y

8. In a fence post, a wire fence vfastener comprising a plate adapted tobe secured to said post, said plate having its lower end extendedoutwardly at right angles to said plate then extended to form a {hookpart whereby the hook will be spaced from the post, the free end of saidhook being extended toward said plate, and a tongue formed of heavymaterial pivoted to said plate whereby said tongue will normally engagethe free endfof the hook by its own weight. k a

4. In a fence post, a wire fence fastener, con iprising a plate adaptedto be seouredto said post, said plate having its lower projectedoutwardly thereof then extended to form a hook part whereby the hookwill be spaced fromfsaid post, a pair of ears formed upon the loweroutwardly extended portion of said plate, and a tongue pivoted betweensaid ears whereby its free end engages with the free end of said hook.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. INMAN. Witnesses;

Ross INMAN', OLIVER L. MOLLOY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eaeh, by addressingthe "Gomini'ssioner of Patents;

Washington, D. G.

